Rowe: Rutgers filling up the win column, so where are the sellout crowds?

By John Rowe

The Record

PISCATAWAY — The song blaring from the High Point Solutions Stadium sound system between the third and fourth quarters was “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Talk about preaching to the choir.

The announced crowd of 48,011 at Saturday’s Syracuse-Rutgers game was overwhelmingly pro-Rutgers, which was understandable.

What isn’t understandable is that Rutgers, at 6-0 after its 23-15 victory and ranked 20th in the country, can’t attract sellout crowds.

The Scarlet Knights are up against years of indifference in a state where the Giants and Yankees are much more popular than the State University’s football team. Rutgers is the birthplace of the sport, as the lettering on the wall in the north end zone lets everybody know, but it obviously must work harder to attract fans than schools with richer histories and conferences with better and bigger résumés than the Big East.

Athletic director Tim Pernetti, a Rutgers tight end from 1989-93, said he was a “little surprised” to see empty seats, although he was quick to point out that the student section “continues to blow our minds.”

“We’re taking care of our part,” Pernetti said. “We’re putting a good product on the field.”

A product that should be commanding more attention. The Scarlet Knights have had only two sellouts since the stadium added more than 10,000 seats to max out at 52,454 as part of a $102 million expansion in 2009.

Yet the third home game of the season was the smallest crowd, even though Rutgers was undefeated and fans had one last chance to boo Syracuse, arguably the Scarlet Knights’ most hated opponent, before the Orange leave for the ACC. Tack on a sunny, crisp fall noon start and $45 and $55 ticket prices that pale in comparison to pro football’s PSLs, and you have to wonder why there were empty seats — especially in the north end zone, more than 120 yards away from the 11,000-strong student section.

Especially when one came two plays before Rutgers’ blocked field goal attempt that turned around the game.

Coming off an 80-yard touchdown drive that tied the score at 7 just before halftime, Syracuse (2-4, 1-1) again was moving on the first possession of the second half. When RU’s defense dug in, the Orange sent in Ross Krautman, the former Ramapo High School kicker, to try a 32-yard field goal. Even with Syracuse’s linemen yelling, “watch 37, watch 37,” Jamal Merrell, who blocked a field goal and extra point in Rutgers’ double-overtime win in the Carrier Dome last season, mounted a rush that resulted in a block of the low-trajectory attempt.

That was only the beginning of Syracuse’s misery. Duron Harmon scooped up the loose ball and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown, the Scarlet Knights’ 10th TD off 27 field goal or punt blocks since 2009.

“I saw the ball and I didn’t want to overrun it. So I slowed down to pick it up,” Harmon said. “Once the holder was blocked I was home free.”

After another Syracuse turnover (the Orange committed four) and a 25-yard field goal by Nick Borgese, subbing for injured Kyle Federico, Rutgers was home free, too.

It didn’t matter that Syracuse had a 418-237 yard edge in total offense or that the Orange limited Jawan Jamison to 64 yards on 28 carries, ending his streak of consecutive 100-yard games at six. Quarterback Gary Nova had another error-free game, completing 14 of 23 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown, and would have had two more if his receivers held on to passes in the end zone.

Plus, Rutgers had the best player on the field in linebacker Khaseem Greene, who was involved in 14 tackles, had 1½ sacks, forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass.

“We all know how good Khaseem is,” Floyd said. “It doesn’t surprise me when he has a game like this.”

Even with its conservative offensive game plans, the element of surprise is long gone for Rutgers, which is bowl eligible for the seventh time in eight years.

“We’re 6-0,” Nova said. “It’s not too conservative.”

And it should be more appealing to football fans in search of satisfying Saturdays.

“We love our fans,” Jamison said.

There just should be more of them.

Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood, center, stands with his players as they sing Rutgers' Alma Mater after defeating Syracuse 23- 15 at High Points Solutions Stadium.

Rowe: Rutgers filling up the win column, so where are the sellout crowds?

Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood, center, stands with his players as they sing Rutgers' Alma Mater after defeating Syracuse 23- 15 at High Points Solutions Stadium.

By John Rowe

The Record

PISCATAWAY — The song blaring from the High Point Solutions Stadium sound system between the third and fourth quarters was “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Talk about preaching to the choir.

The announced crowd of 48,011 at Saturday’s Syracuse-Rutgers game was overwhelmingly pro-Rutgers, which was understandable.

What isn’t understandable is that Rutgers, at 6-0 after its 23-15 victory and ranked 20th in the country, can’t attract sellout crowds.

The Scarlet Knights are up against years of indifference in a state where the Giants and Yankees are much more popular than the State University’s football team. Rutgers is the birthplace of the sport, as the lettering on the wall in the north end zone lets everybody know, but it obviously must work harder to attract fans than schools with richer histories and conferences with better and bigger résumés than the Big East.

Athletic director Tim Pernetti, a Rutgers tight end from 1989-93, said he was a “little surprised” to see empty seats, although he was quick to point out that the student section “continues to blow our minds.”

“We’re taking care of our part,” Pernetti said. “We’re putting a good product on the field.”

A product that should be commanding more attention. The Scarlet Knights have had only two sellouts since the stadium added more than 10,000 seats to max out at 52,454 as part of a $102 million expansion in 2009.

Yet the third home game of the season was the smallest crowd, even though Rutgers was undefeated and fans had one last chance to boo Syracuse, arguably the Scarlet Knights’ most hated opponent, before the Orange leave for the ACC. Tack on a sunny, crisp fall noon start and $45 and $55 ticket prices that pale in comparison to pro football’s PSLs, and you have to wonder why there were empty seats — especially in the north end zone, more than 120 yards away from the 11,000-strong student section.

Especially when one came two plays before Rutgers’ blocked field goal attempt that turned around the game.

Coming off an 80-yard touchdown drive that tied the score at 7 just before halftime, Syracuse (2-4, 1-1) again was moving on the first possession of the second half. When RU’s defense dug in, the Orange sent in Ross Krautman, the former Ramapo High School kicker, to try a 32-yard field goal. Even with Syracuse’s linemen yelling, “watch 37, watch 37,” Jamal Merrell, who blocked a field goal and extra point in Rutgers’ double-overtime win in the Carrier Dome last season, mounted a rush that resulted in a block of the low-trajectory attempt.

That was only the beginning of Syracuse’s misery. Duron Harmon scooped up the loose ball and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown, the Scarlet Knights’ 10th TD off 27 field goal or punt blocks since 2009.

“I saw the ball and I didn’t want to overrun it. So I slowed down to pick it up,” Harmon said. “Once the holder was blocked I was home free.”

After another Syracuse turnover (the Orange committed four) and a 25-yard field goal by Nick Borgese, subbing for injured Kyle Federico, Rutgers was home free, too.

It didn’t matter that Syracuse had a 418-237 yard edge in total offense or that the Orange limited Jawan Jamison to 64 yards on 28 carries, ending his streak of consecutive 100-yard games at six. Quarterback Gary Nova had another error-free game, completing 14 of 23 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown, and would have had two more if his receivers held on to passes in the end zone.

Plus, Rutgers had the best player on the field in linebacker Khaseem Greene, who was involved in 14 tackles, had 1½ sacks, forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass.

“We all know how good Khaseem is,” Floyd said. “It doesn’t surprise me when he has a game like this.”

Even with its conservative offensive game plans, the element of surprise is long gone for Rutgers, which is bowl eligible for the seventh time in eight years.

“We’re 6-0,” Nova said. “It’s not too conservative.”

And it should be more appealing to football fans in search of satisfying Saturdays.